There are many European cars that can be considered very fuel efficient.

However, have you ever tried to put them on a list and finding out how efficient they really are? If you follow us after the jump, you will find that list, which shows Europe's 15 most fuel-efficient vehicles.

Interestingly, the list doesn't include just city cars, either. On it, you'll find subcompacts as well as compacts. Unsurprisingly, the truth is that you'll find that most of them are diesels which, thanks to the upcoming Euro V rules, now include DPF (diesel particulate filters) as standard. Perhaps even more unsurprisingly, the Smart CDI came out on top.

> Translation: "I am a Toyota fanboy and the system that gives> the Prius the better fuel economy rating is clearly better!"

European fuel economy test inflates the MPG (in U.S gallons) of any car. Toyota Prius included. So the 2010 Prius III is rated at 60 mpg U.S in Europe, still crushing its lame, underpowered and tiny sized competition. Let's have a look at the list:

So:- Toyota Prius is the largest car in this group- it is the most powerful, doing 0-60 in 10 seconds (Smart CDI diesel does it in 16+ seconds, other tiny underpowered diesels do it in some 12+ seconds)- diesel fuel contains 12% more energy per unit of volume and requires more crude oil to produce; when we account for this, Toyota Prius III becomes the MOST EFFICIENT in this top group (that's why it has the lowest CO2 emissions)

Conclusion: you take a tiny, underpowered diesel toy seriously optimized for efficiency (all diesel vehicles here are in their pro efficiency spec) and still can't beat the relatively large, powerful hybrid.

When was the last time I actually used 0-60? Let me think... it's been so long since I've slammed my car, which by the way takes about 10/11 seconds to reach 100 km/h - and guess what? I've never had a damn problem with merging or overtaking with this "optimized for fuel efficiency" vehicle. 0-60 is completely irrelevant to most people. It's only something silly little kids or silly little publications like Car and Driver make a big deal out of. Midrange power is far important and your basic European diesel/gasoline economy car performs completely satisfactory in that regard.

1. 0-60 time is just a measure. A measure of ability to accelerate, perform an overtaking maneuver or do a narrow escape in a close call on the road.

It's not about impressing anyone, it's about safety.

2. It's normal that you want more power if you can have it. Despite this obvious fact, you're trying to depreciate every hybrid advantage.

3. So far as midrange power is concerned, hybrids truly excel in this aspect because of its technical setup:- electric power is available immediately, without waiting for the engine to spin or for the boost to build up- because full hybrids have no gearbox, their engine is allowed to spin out into its peak power immediately, without any downshifts necessary

Given the fact that i) Europeans are not as fat as Americans ii) the driving environment is one of older and crowded cities with smaller roads and iii) Europe does not have the political influence over Middle East to get cheap gasoline, their preference for diesel and small cars would lead to these cars. Although these cars may not be appropriate or popular in N America, I wouldn't pooh pooh them as inferior. Try living in Europe and see if you enjoy driving a large car that uses expensive petrol.

A curious note, I travel to Australia 3-4 times a year and given their expansive geography and big and heavy nature like Americans, Australians like small cars just as much as Europe. Interesting isn't it.

"Europe preference of small cars has absolutely nothing to do with environmental consciousness or road architecture. It just comes down to purchasing power."

Cut the bullshit. The American way of life (Big is Better) isn't part of the European car buying culture. Being realistic and conscious is. We buy our cars based on what we need. Someone who is realistic and who lives in the city is not going to buy a V8 SUV, they're going to buy something like an Opel Corsa or Fiat Punto or something even smaller like a Smart or Toyota iQ. 0-60 is completely irrelevant here to most people, especially since a 0-60 time of 10 seconds is completely acceptable here. Nobody bitches about such a performance time here.

You claim that purchasing power is the reason why we drive small cars. What a load of crap. Plenty of wealthy Europeans drive small economy cars. Hell, famous celebrities in Europe drive cars like the Ford Ka or Fiat 500 for example because they're trendy and a fashion statement.

Owning a car here is expensive: ANY CAR. Engine capacity taxes, fuel taxes and varying insurance rates (can start at 140%) make owning even a small Fiat Punto a pain in the ass. Because we are taxes accordingly our car buying habits have adapted and our mentality has shifted to being more realistic in our purchases. I don't need a C63 AMG when a C180 Kompressor is far more practicable and fuel efficient and gets me from A to B in roughly the same time frame but with far less fuel costs.

Oh yeah, and those who buy really expensive cars that get poor gas mileage and get the hell taxed out of them...they can afford them. They can afford to indulge. It's just that the average European is REALISTIC when it comes to purchasing a car.

> Cut the bullshit. The American way of life (Big is Better)> isn't part of the European car buying culture. Being realistic> and conscious is.

Yep. All those super overpriced and overpowered toys do come from the USA, right? These Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins, McLarens. Being obsessed about how fast the car can lap the N-Ring. Genuinely American, isn't it?

Oh, and those 600HP AMG Mercedes Benzes? Some 600HP estate cars like Audi RS6? A 1000HP Bugatti? They also were born in the USA and have nothing common with the land of consciousness and common sense, right?

> We buy our cars based on what we need. Someone who is realistic and> who lives in the city is not going to buy a V8 SUV

True. They will buy a V6 diesel SUV (Audi Q7 TDI, Mercedes ML 320 CDI, an X5 3.0d, VW Touareg TDI). If they can only afford it. Sorry, but I've seen too many of those merged into most dense areas of city traffic in European cities, with their drivers very happy to intimidate other by presenting the conspicuous purchase.

> Nobody bitches about such a performance time here.

Exactly. Nürburgring is an American race track and shaving seconds from its laptime is something Americans have invented.

> You claim that purchasing power is the reason why> we drive small cars. What a load of crap. Plenty of wealthy> Europeans drive small economy cars.

huu, you're not only stupid but stupid with an attitude as well. Europeans on average is trimmer than Americans, that's a fact. It's true that Germans can be heavyset but I'm talking about Europe as a whole. And yes, I do travel to Europe as well and my business counterparts are men for the most part. As far as Australian heritage, that has nothing to do with their physical nature. I have traveled on average 3-4 times a year to Australia since 2002 and I know what I see. So stop enlighten us with your ignorance.

Excellent. Thank you nguyenvuminh. Haven't you notice that a lot of Europeans or want to be's have an attitude with anything American, but will blog, vacation, watch and use American products. Its a love hate envy relationship.

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